This photo was snapped on our way to church this morning.  We were on time, in spite of the time change and winter snow storm again last night.  I’m beginning to believe I live in Narnia or that Dr. Zhivago will appear at any moment.

When you reside in Minnesota, you learn to accept the weather, but enough already! We’ve had a plethora of the white stuff, extremely cold temperatures, school closings and the feeling of isolation is beginning to effect everyone – including our dog.  If you can imagine going outside in snow up to his butt and then trying to find a place to relieve himself – if you can picture being unable to sniff out the perfect spot – giving up, becoming listless and not eating as he should – it’s all a prescription for doggie depression.

I promised not to write about winter anymore, but this morning as we drove to church, I couldn’t help but notice the beauty of the fir trees, laden heavily with fresh snow.  All the trees and bushes were dotted with the white stuff. The sun began to peek out, casting a magical reflection across the open spaces as a light dusting whisked across the road.

I complain a lot about our weather.  Maybe I feel entitled to do so, because our winters usually begin anywhere between October and November and run into late March and sometimes April.  That means about half of our year is covered with a blanket of snow, which will turn to water to nurture new growth and cause flooding of our rivers and lakes – not to mention ice dams which have caused leaking in the house – but I digress.

I love to look at the beauty from the safety of my dining room window or inside a nice warm car, but I’m getting too old to cross country ski, ice skate, snow shoe or downhill ski.  I enjoy writing about the picturesque landscape.  I have to laugh at the line up of feral cats living under our shed as they poke their heads out like prairie dogs and do a comical cat scan of the snow outside their domain.

It will be only two more months at the most.  Then we’ll be complaining about mud and yuck being brought into the house.  I have to admit it.  I’m probably never satisfied, but God’s Word has some beautiful things to say about snow.

“He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes.
He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs;
    who can stand before his cold? ” Psalm 146:16-17